San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-06-25
X IN G
Solomon S Mines.
BY H. RIDER uAGGARD.


crowned with wreath of flowers, and hold
ing palm-leaf in one hand and a tall white
lily (the drItm) in the other. In the center
OF the open space sat Twala, the king, with
GagOOl at his feet attended by lntadOOs, the
boy Scragga, and about a dozen guards.
There were also present about a score Of
chiefs, amongst whom recognized most OF
our friends of the night before.
Twala greeted us with much apparent cor
duality, though | saw him fix his one eye
yiciOusly on UmbOpa.
welcome, white men from the stars, "he
said; this is different sight from what
your eyes gaZed on by the light OF last
nights moon, but IL is not so good a sight.
Girls are pleasant, and were il not for such
as these" (and he pointed round HIM I'VE
should none of us be here to-day; but men
are better. Kisses and tender words Of wO-
men are sweet but the sound of the clash
ing of mems spears, and the smell of mems
blood, are sweeteT farI Would ye have
wives from among our people, white menp
III so, choose the fairest here, and We shall
have them, as many as ye WILL" and he
paused for an answer.
As the prospect did not seem TO be with
out attractions TO Good, who was like most
sailors, of a susceptible nature, | being ell
derby and wise, and fOreseeing the endless
complications that anything of the sort
would involve (fOr women bring trouble as
surely as the night follows the day put in a
hasty answer:
Thanks, o king! but we white men wed
only with white women like ourselves.
Your maidens are fair, but they are not for
u.s."
The king laughed.
ut is well. In our land there is a pro-
verb which says, 'WOman's eyes are always
bright, whatever the COLOR and another
which says, Love her who is present, for be
sure she who is absent is false to thee but
perhaps these things are not so in the stars.
In land where men are white all things are
possible. So be it, white men; the girls will
not go begging! Welcome again; and well
come, too, thou black one; if GagOol here
had had her way, thou wOuldst have been
stiff and cold now. 1t is lucky that thou,
too earnest from the stars; ha! hap
81 can kill thee before thou killest me, o
kingp' was IgnOsPs calm answer, land
thou shalt be stiff before my limbs cease to
bend"
Twala started. "ThOu speakest boldly,
boy" he replied, angrily; presume not too
far"
HE may well be bold in whose lips are
truth. The truth is q sharp spear which flies
home and fails not. 1t is a message from
the stars o kingw
Twala scOwled, and his one eye cleaned
fiercely, but he said nothing more. Let the
dance begin" he cried. and the next second
the tiOwer-crOwned girls sprung forward in
companies, singing a sweet song and waving
the delicate palms and white flowers. On
they danced, now whirling round and round,
now meeting in mimic warfare, swaying,
eddying here and there, coming forward,
falling back in an ordered confusion delight
full to witness. At last they paused, and a
beautiful young woman sprung out of the
ranks and began to pirOuette in front of us
with a grace and vigOr which would have
put most ballet-giTls to shame. At length
she fell back exhausted, and another took
her place, then another and another, but
none of them, either in grace, skill, or per-
sOnal attractions, came up to the first.
At length the king lifted his hand.
(which think We the fairest, white menY
he asked.
1.-THE first" said |, unthnkingly. Next
nd [ regretted it. for remembered that
1nfadoos had said that the fairest woman
was offered as a sacrifice.
Then is my mind as your minds, and my
eyes as your eyes. She is the fairest; and
sorry thing 1t is for her. for she must dep
"Ay, must die" piped out Gagool, casting
a glance from her quick eyes in the direc-
ton of the poor girl, who, as yet ignorant Of
the awful fate in store for her, was standing
some twenty yards of in front of a company
OF girls, engaged in nervously picking a
flower from her wreath to pieces, petal by
petal.
"Why, o kingT' said l, restraining my in
dignation with difficulty; "the girl has
danced well and pleased us; she is fair, too;
il would be hard to reward her with dealt"
Twala laughed as he answered.
at is our custom, and the figures who sit
in stone yOndeT" land he pointed toward the
three distant peaks must have their due.
Did l fail to put the fareSt girl TO death to.
day misfortune would fall upon me and my
house. Thus runs the prophecy of my peo-
pie: If the king offer not sacrifice of fair
girl on the day OF the dance of maidens to
the old ones who sit and watch on the noun
tains, then shall he fall and his house..
Look ye, white men, my brother who
Teigned before me offered not the sacrifice,
because of the tears of the home, and he fell
and his house, and l reign in his stead Ii
is finished; she must dep Then turning to
the guards-"Bring her hltheT; Scragga,
make sharp thy spear"
Two of the men stepped forward, and as
they did 50, the girl, for the first time reali-
Zing her impending fate, screamed aloud
and turned to fly. But the strong hands
caught her fast and brought her, struggling
and weeping, up before US.
what is thy name, girl?' piped Gagool.
What wilt thou not answer; shall the
kings son do his work at onceY'
At this hint Scragga, looking more evil
than ever, advanced a step and lifted his
great spear, and as he did so l saw Sir Hen
RVS hand creep to his revolver. The poor
girl caught the CLINT Of the cold steel
through her tears, and it sObered her an
guish. She ceased struggling but merely
clasped her hands cOnvulsively, and stood
shuddering from head to foot.
See" cried Scragga in high glee, "she
shrinks from the sight Of my little plaything
even before she has tasted it," and he tapped
the broad blade of the spear.
IF ever l get the chance, you shall pay
for that, you young houndW heard Good
mutter beneath his breath.
Now that thou art quiet, give us thy
name, my dear. Come, speak up and fear
not" said GagOOl in mOckery.
"Oh, MOTHER" answered the girl in tremb-
ling accents, my name is FOulata, of the
house of SukO. Oh, mother, why must l die?
/ have done no wrOngp'
BE cOmfOrted," went on the old woma n.
in her hateful tone Of mOckery. Thou must